Happy 60th Birthday Roopa :

Our gorgeous Roopa turns 60 today! Happy Birthday Ma :) Roopa is the most hardworking,graceful,kind hearted and talented person I've known all my life. My only friend who puts up with all my tantrums and nasty tempers without even saying an "ouch". Its so great that we're all together in this pretty town of Pondicherry to celebrate her milestone year. Its so tough for me to believe that she's 60 now because she's one powerhouse with a heart of a teenager ;-)

Love you Ma! UUUUMMMMMAAAAs

Ma's Birthday Trip

Its Mum's 60th Birthday on the 27th and Meera, Gaurav and I and ofcourse Babba, have planned a secret trip for her this weekend. We all take off tomorrow and meet up at Chennai airport early tomorrow morning and then we take off to the secret location...Yay! Mum has no clue what happens after that...geee so exciting but hard to keep a secret considering I speak to her every day :))

Since I scoot early tomorrow morning, I'm closing all deliveries till the 4th of February. Deliveries begin on Wednesday the 5th. Till then you can go head and shop ofcourse. 

I managed to finish the tiny backpack keychains I was working on for the last couple of days. They've turned out pretty darn cute I must say. I've made these as gifts alot and Meera still uses the one I made her two years ago. She just cannot seem to find any other keychain that packs in some essentials and also is so easy to pull out of your bag. 

Well, I rush to finish my last minute packing and pick up the clothes drying outside...before I forget. See you all soon. Wish me luck and yes taking loads of your wishes and love for Mum in advance :)) The flight takes off at 6.20 am and the cab to the airport comes at 4.30 am...ooh I've got to hurry. Byeeee!

Weekending

 This weekend = Birthday Party + Birthday Party + Mumbai Marathon + Friend's Wedding + Birthday Dinner Phew!! This weekend was jam packed, but thanks to Meera and Gaurav for putting up with my tantrums and helping me get to all venues without a hitch ;-) 
My Brother in Law celeberated his 30th this Sunday and I had the honour of being the official snapper of the evening. We ate and drank till 4am and sleep walked the SCMM Dream Run the next morning, got to a wedding in the evening and scooted off to a quiet family dinner later at night.
Oh yeha and between all the madness, our baby girl Franny has discovered herself in the mirror and spends a lot of time admiring herself heeheee. Its tough to catch her in action. Managed to steal a picture from Meera's phone. 
This week am finishing the last few details for Roopa's 60th Birthday trip. We leave on Saturday. 

New Camera pouches  are up for sale in the shop. These are another great pattern from Michelle Patterns. The construction was so easy and yes my quilting foot did all the hard work for me. Quilting is starting to get fun now :)
I'll see you soon before I leave. Hope you all are having a good week :)

New notions and some presents

I added some more notions and tools to my collection. Apart from the walking foot I picked up online, my Uncle brought me some goodies while he came visiting last week.

I put the long ruler and rotary cutter to use right away. Need sometime to figure out how to use the slotted rulers for quilting. The eyelet and snap button pliers are so easy to use. I used the hammer tool and always had my snaps shifting about. I wish I'd asked for the one with adjustable sizes though. Its such a pity that all this might be available in India too, but the small crafting community that I'm aware of is just so secretive about where they buy their fabric and notions. Its sad that no one wants to share even their sources of fabric, in the fear that the other may gain...its just such a turn off. 
Well, I spent quite sometime sewing up some gifts for Shairose. Since I was meeting her for the first time and wasn't too sure what she'd like, I made her a few things that I thought she might like to have around. 

We chose the fabric together from Fabindia. Was too exciting. She loved her bag and was so sweet enough to carry it around the moment I presented it to her :)
So that's all I've been sewing the past fortnight, let me know what you people have been up to. Oh yes, know where I can get some yummy fabric and notions in town...be kind and write to me pleeees :))

See ya!

2014

Happy 2014 people :) I know its abit late in the day to say so..but my computer and I haven't had enough time which each other lately you see. 
The year started on a very emotional note, met my Dad's youngest brother after 27 years!! Yup! That's right 27 long years. Its not been easy for all the brothers, considering the 4 of them are spread across 3 different continents. Well the Karim is married to the lovely Shairose and stayed with us in Bombay for two weeks. Two whole weeks of talking,laughing,crying and ofcourse lots of eating and drinking too :) 

Days were spent over endless cups of chai and coffee and hours of talking whereas evenings were again spent over coffee and singing Swahili songs :) We talked of the time we were all together in Nairobi, Kenya. After two whole weeks of so much fun, we promised to stay in touch and visit each other often and not wait another 3 decades for a family reunion!!
Not much sewing happened, but yes I did get some Kindle cases and Tea wallets in the shop. Am working on some exciting projects and need to take some pictures before I can put them up in the shop. Oh yeha! The new Canon camera is lovely and am still getting used to it.
I've finally been able to use the walking foot I bought last month. It sews like a dream. I've been so silly not to pick it up earlier. Quilting and sewing through heavy layers has become so easy. I dreaded taking up projects with multi layers of interfacing and linings cause I'd always end up with crooked lines and a very sore neck. For those of you who haven't yet bought one and love quilting, go get it NOW!!  
I added a few more notions and tools to my collection too, more on that later. 
I haven't been able to set my sewing goals this year and I'm leaving that for next month. Till then I'm busy working on Mum's 60th Birthday next week. 
Sshhhhh....Ma I know you read this space...so nope I'm not letting out any details here...soreeee :)) You'll just have to wait till you get here.
Hope all you guys are having a great start to 2014 with all your resolutions broken by now hahahaha...

See you all soon!